Air Operations, Bonin and Volcano Islands

• 9 VII Bomber Command B-24s attack Chichi Jima.
• 19 B-24s attack Iwo Jima.
• 21 313th Very Heavy Bomb Wing B-29s using radar guidance from high altitude attack defensive gun positions on Iwo Jima with 84 tons of bombs, but results are negligible.
• During the night, 8 VII Bomber Command B-24s conduct snooper raids against Chichi Jima and Iwo Jima.

Air Operations, CBI

• More than 60 10th Air Force P-47s and 459th Fighter Squadron P-38s attack troops, tanks, motor vehicles, and supplies at 7 locations.
• 23 P-47s support Allied ground forces near Myitson and Nabu.
• 4 P-47s support Allied ground troops at Loiya.
• 3 P-47s attack a bridge at Pa-mao.

• 14th Air Force fighter-bombers attack rail targets across broad areas of China.

Air Operations, Europe

• 72 Mosquitos are sent to Stuttgart, 11 to Misburg, 4 to Würzburg, and 3 each on 'H₂S trials' to Cologne, Frankfurt, Koblenz and Wiesbaden, and 1 Mosquito flies an RCM sortie.
• There are no losses.

By the time this recce picture of Cologne was taken, Cologne had been virtually raized to the ground after a series of Bomber Command attacks which started in May 1940 and finally ended in March 1945.

Cologne, 24 February 1945

Air Operations, Formosa

During the night, 63rd Heavy Bomb Squadron SB-24s mount their first attacks against shipping off Formosa and off the China coast, a task to which the unit will be almost exclusively dedicated for several months, as will US 7th Fleet PBYs and PB4Ys.

Air Operations, Marianas

In its first combat mission since returning to the war zone as a B-29 unit, the 314th Very Heavy Bomb Wing’s 19th Very Heavy Bomb Group attacks ground targets on Rota Island.

Air Operations, Philippines

• FEAF B-24s attack Corregidor.
• V Bomber Command B-25s and V Fighter Command fighter-bombers support US 6th Army ground forces in the Nichols Field area of Luzon.
• V Bomber Command A-20s and 348th Fighter Group P-47s attack barges off the Bataan Peninsula.
• B-24s, A-20s, and V Fighter Command fighter-bombers attack military targets across the Bataan Peninsula throughout the day.

Baltic

To date, the Kriegsmarine has evacuated 374,000 refugees from East Prussia.

Burma

West of Mandalay XXXIII Corps units begin to take their second series of bridgeheads over the Irrawaddy. The advance here is by 20th Indian Div opposite Myinmu. To the south IV Corps has reached the Irrawaddy at Myitche and Seikpyu and is preparing to cross. British and US units of Daniel Sultan's Northern Area Combat Command are advancing south toward Lashio and Kyaukme, but are being held for the moment in heavy fighting near the River Shweli.

Diplomatic Relations

(when?)Peru declares war on Germany and Japan.

Eastern Front

The Germans resume their break-out attempt from Buda. A force of nearly 16,000 men reach the hills around Perbal before they are halted by units of the 46th Army. More than 12,000 have been killed or captured inside the city. The remnants of Pfeffer-Wildenbruch's group continue to fight on in the sewers.

Germany, Home Front

Martin Bormann issues a decree pressing German women into Volkssturm service. All women between 16 and 60 are declared eligible.

Pacific

The US submarine Batfish (SS-310) sinks its third Japanese submarine, RO-113, in 4 days off the Philippine coast.

Philippines

On Luzon the Japanese still in Manilla are cut off by the American advance, but are determined to fight to a finish. The Americans reach Manila Bay and capture most of Nichols airfield and Neilson airfield. In the XI Corps sector they advance from Dinalupihan toward the Bataan peninsula, which they must take to give them control of Manila Bay.

V-Weapons

German scientists working at the top secret V-weapon station at Peenemunde are evacuated away from the oncoming Red Army.

Western Front

Further progress is made by the British XXX Corps in the northern sector of the front, where the Canadian 1st Army is operating. The Canadian 3rd Div reaches Kellen and Warbeyen and relieves the British 15th Div and the Cleve sector; the 15th Div then pushes on northeast toward Calcar, meeting stubborn resistance by the units of the German 1st Parachute Army; the 43rd Div takes Bedburg, an essential objective before going on toward Goch; the 53rd and 51st Divs carry on with the clearance of the Reichswald.

In the US 3rd Army sector, the VIII and XII Corps advance in the Prüm and Bollendorf sectors.

Images from February 12, 1945

Churchill tanks drive along a badly damaged street in Kleve, Germany, 12 February 1945

Churchill Tanks in Kleve, Germany

Columns of smoke from fires still raging cast a pall over the ruined city of Manila, 12 February 1945

Fires in Manila

Churchill bridgelayer and fascine carrier in the Reichswald forest, 12 February 1945 in the Reichswald forest, 12 February 1945

Churchill Bridgelayer and Fascine Carrier

British troops show off a souvenir Japanese flag captured at Ondaw, Burma, 12 February 1945.

Captured Japanese Flag

German soldiers surrender in Budapest, Hungary. February, 1945

German Soldiers Surrender in Budapest

Churchill AVRE with Spigot mortar in Kleve, Germany, February 12, 1945

Churchill AVRE with Spigot Mortar

Refugees from Eastern Germany being taken care of at Åbenrå, Denmark, 12 Feb 1945

Refugees from Eastern Germany

The Volksopfer, meaning Sacrifice of the people, scoured the country, collecting uniforms, boots and equipment from German civilians, as seen here in Berlin on February 12, 1945. The Fuhrer expects your sacrifice for Army and Home Guard. So that you're proud your Home Guard man can show himself in uniform - empty your wardrobe and bring its contents to us

Sacrifice of the People